The Moon Sister (The Seven Sisters #5) by Lucinda Riley: A Book Review

The Moon Sister (The Seven Sisters #5)
Author: Lucinda Riley
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Atria
Release Date: 2019
Pages: 544
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: From New York Times bestselling author Lucinda Riley, this sweeping and majestic tale transports you to the grandeur of the remote Scottish Highlands and Madrid torn apart by civil war as two women bound across time and distance search for the truth of their place in the world.

     Tiggy D’Aplièse spends her days reveling in the raw beauty of the Scottish Highlands, where she works at a deer sanctuary. But when the sanctuary is forced to close, she must take a job as a wildlife consultant on the vast and isolated estate of the elusive and troubled Charlie Kinnaird. She has no idea that the move will not only irrevocably alter her future, but also bring her face-to-face with her past.

     At the estate, she meets Chilly, an elderly Romani man who fled from Spain seventy years before. He tells her that not only does she possess a sixth sense passed down from her ancestors, but it was foretold long ago that he would be the one to send her back home.

     Back in 1912, in the poor Romani community outside the city walls of Granada, Lucía Amaya-Albaycin is born. Her mother is devastated when Lucía is whisked away by her ambitious father at the tender age of ten to dance in the flamenco bars of Barcelona. And while Lucía perfects her passionate performances—eventually becoming the greatest flamenco dancer of her generation—tensions in Spain boil over into civil war, forcing Lucía and her troupe of dancers to flee for their lives. As they travel in search of a safe haven, Lucía’s long-held dream of going to New York may be in grasp. But to pursue it, she must choose between her love for her career and the man she adores.

     Featuring Lucinda Riley’s “addictive storytelling with a moving, emotional heart” (Dinah Jefferies), The Moon Sister follows these two women on their journey to discover their true futures—but at the risk of potentially losing the men they had hoped to build futures with.

     My Review: Tiggy works at a deer sanctuary in the Scottish Highlands. When the deer sanctuary closes, she takes a job as a wildlife consultant on the vast estate of the laird, Charles Kinnaird. At the estate, she meets a gypsy named Chilly. Chilly tells her the story of her ancestors. One of her ancestors was Lucia, who was a famous flamenco dancer.

    Tiggy was a very fascinating character. I liked her spiritualism and how she was in touch with nature. I also liked how she came to terms with her identity. There were a few choices Tiggy made that I certainly did not agree with. However, she was very human and learned from them. Thus, I loved how Tiggy grew more mature over the course of the novel.

    Usually, I love the historical aspects of all of Lucinda Riley’s novels. However, I preferred the contemporary storyline over the historical timeline. This is because I did not like Tiggy’s ancestor Lucia. This may be that unlike the other novels in this series, Lucia’s story was not told from her perspective. Instead, her story was told by the perspectives of other characters that surrounded Lucia. Therefore, the judgements of the other characters influenced my opinions on Lucia. Lucia was very selfish. She loved dancing and fame. There was little depth to her, and she was distant. I could not understand her actions. Therefore, Lucia’s story did not appeal to me.

    Overall, this novel is about dreams, identity, and family. The Moon Sister was a perfect beach read! I love the setting of the winter Scottish Highlands and the Spanish landscape! I also liked how flamenco dancing was the main part of the novel. I liked how there were hints of supernatural elements in the novel! The Moon Sister had a fascinating mystery! The Moon Sister proves to be a winner for the late Lucinda Riley! The Seven Sisters series is a shining jewel that must not be missed and is definitely a must read! I’m starting on Electra’s story now. Hopefully, I can finish the series in time when Atlas, the last novel in the series, is released. I am very fortunate to have discovered the late Lucinda Riley’s stunning series! We have lost such a wonderful author!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Here is a video of the late Lucinda Riley who discussed her novel, The Moon Sister: